WHOLESALE THEFT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19917, 2 May 1930, Page 3

WHOLESALE THEFT.

FOUR MAORIS ADMIT MANY CHARGES. (FRISS ASSOCIATION TZLEGHAK.) DARGAVILLE, May 1. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, after two days' trial, four Maoris—feter Stewart, John'" Te Waaki, James Toko, and Rebecca Stewart, wife of the first-mentioned—pleaded guilty and were remanded to the Auckland Supreme Court for sentence on a number of charges, including arson, theft, breaking and entering, and sheep stealing. The total value Of the goods stolen and destroyed, including the house burnt, ran into several hundreds of pounds. The Natives lived at a settlement known as Wairere on the West Coast beach, and according to their own evidence and that of the police their activities carried them over a wide range of sparsely-populated country. The majority of the goods stolen were taken to the home of Peter Stewart, who appears to have been the ringleader, and had the others under his rule, and bitriad in a cave near the house and in holes round about it. They discovered after a diligent search by the police, and exhibited in Court, which resembled a large general store, so varied were the articles en view. The crimes have extended ever a long period, and the settlers aro relieved and thankful that the police have been able to sheet the charges home to the perpetrators. The house destroyed was a fourroomed one. just furnished, and about to be occupied by a newly-married couple, on whom the loss was particularly heavy, as they were not insured. 4 V<*ung Madri, Sam Dick, will be charged at the Juvenile Court on May 12th with being concerned in several of the charges, and also the theft of goods valued at £2O.